Weft-controlling mechanism for looms



March 25 1924. F, E. KIP:: I

WEFT CONTROLLINGMECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed May 28. 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet v1 March 25, 1924. 1,488,352

. F. E. KIP I WEFT CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed May 28 192. 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 H- I l ii I i A? i 17 A77 40'" I I f I 1 h; (56 l L J f 45 1 2 i I v H March 25, 1924. 1,488,352

F. E. KIP

WEFT CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed May 28.. 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 ai izer -Marcb 25 1924.

F. E. KIP

WEFT CONTROLLING MEcfiANIsM FOR LOQMS Filed May 28. 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 fizdeni'ar: 1

F. E. K IP WEF'I' CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed May 28 1921 6 Sheets-Shae; 5

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' March 25-, 1924. 1,488,352

F. E. KIP

WEFT CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed May 28 1921 Y 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 lawaza'n- MK/'l Patented Mar. 25, 1924:.

warren starts til NT FAT FBEDEEIC E. K11, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNDR TOTI-IE'SALTS TEXTILE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF BBIIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPOBATION OF CONNECTICUT.

FEET-CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Application filed. May 28, 1921.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, F REDERIO E. K11 a citizen of the United States, residing at Montclair, in the county of Essex, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Weft-Controlling Mechanisms for Looms, of which the following is a specification.

T his invention relates to weft-controlling mechanisms for looms and consists particularly in improvements in the feeler-motion or detector-device therefor.

My improved feeler-device is adapted for use with singleand double-shuttle looms to effect the stopping of the loom when the veft in the shuttle is substantially exhausted; or, in automatic looms, to initiate the operation of the weft-replenishing mechanism to provide a fresh supply of weft or filling to the shuttle without arresting the operation of the loom.

One object of the invention is to provide an extremely light and sensitive feeler adapted for efficient action without subjecting the weft yarn to undue pressure when in contact therewith, so as to avoid breaking chafing or otherwise injuring fine and delicate materials such as silk and like gossamer threads.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide for a positive and quick action of the feeler when the weft or filling is exhausted to a predetermined extent, with the operating-mechanism designed for simplicity and lightness and having a minimum of moving elements so as to practically eliminate the effects of friction and inertia.

Another object of the invention is to provide a feeler having no pivot connections or friction joints. and adapted for quick action without the use of springs or heavy weights.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred embodiment of the feeler-device as applied to use either for actuating the stop-motion or controlling the action of the filling-replenishing mechanism of the loom. The specification is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a double-shuttle loom. showing my improved feelerdevice applied to use thereon; Fig. 2, a front elevation of the knock-off device for the stopping-mechanism of the loom; Fig. 3, detailed plan view of the knock-off device;

Serial No. 473,836.

Fig. 4, a side elevation of a portion of an automatic loom showing the feeler-device as used thereon; Fig. 5, an opposlte side elevation of the weftor filling-replenishing mechanism of theautomatic loom; Fig. 6, an enlarged plan view of the feeler-device showing its relation to the shuttle in the shuttle-box; Fig. 7, an enlarged detailed view in vertical section showing the application of the feeler-device to a double-shuttle loom; and Figs. 8 and 9, views similar to Figs. 6 and 7, showing the feeler-device ar ranged for use in connection with a shuttle carrying a bobbin having a bunch-windmg.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, a double-shuttle loom is herein shown in part end elevation with the numeral 2 designating one of the side frames; 3 the knife-rail, which for the purpose of this description may be considered as the breast-beam; 4 the lay; and 5 the crank-shaft which is connected by pitmen 6 to rock the lay. These main elements of the loom structure are well known to those versed 1n the art and there fore require no detailed description. Mount ed at both ends of the lay t are the superimposed shuttleboxes 7 adapted to receive the two shuttles S and S which are operated from the usual picker-sticks, not herein shown, to be thrown across the loom in alternately opposite directions in the manner as well known in the art.

At the front of the loom, bearing against the breast-beam 8, is the shipper-lever 10 which controls the power-actuated drivingmechanism of the loom. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and E2, the shipper-lever 10 is constructed from a flat strip of metal, twisted and bent into a loop at the bottom to provide a spring extension 11 which is bolted to the side frame 2 at 12. During the normal operation of the loom the lever 10 is held in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 by means of a catch or detent 14 on the breastbeam 3 whichengages its side. Upon the release of the lever 10 from the detent 14 the spring-action of its looped end 11 will cause it to be shifted to the right, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, to actuate the stopping-mechanism of the loom. The shipperlever 10 may be connected by a rod or other means to shift a fork to slide the drivinghelt from a tight to a loose pulley; or it may be connected to throw out a clutch in from the detent it will swing to the right to operate the switch to stop the motor.

The lever 10 is adapted to be disengaged from the latch or detent 1 1: by means acting to spring it outwardly away from the side of the breast-beam 3. I may employ any suitable knock-ofl device for this purpose and,as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a convenient means consists of an .arm or lever pivoted at 21 to a bracket 22 fastened to the side of the frame 2 and arranged to bear against the inner fiat side of the lever 10 near its upper end. Projecting inwardly from the outer end of the knocleoi'l' lever 20 is a rod 23 to the end of which is fast ned a collar 24, see Figs. 1, 3 and 7. The collar is provided with a depending lug 25 in which is fastened a cross-pin or stud 26. The stud 26 serves as a pivot for one or more rockable latches or hook-levers 30 and 31 which are controlled by the feeler-devicc to effect the operation of the knock-off lever 20. For a shingle-shuttle loom only one latch is used,

but with a double-shuttle loom as herein shown two hook-levers 30 and 31 are pivoted on the projecting portions of the stud 26 and held in place thereon by riveting over the ends of the stud, see Fig. 6.

The hook-levers 30 and 31 are of bell crank type having arms 32 that depend from their hubs 33 in substantially vertical position and other arms 34: which extend at right-angles thereto in a horizontal plane. At the ends of the horizontal arms 34 are hooks 35 adapted to engage the hooked end of a relatively broad-armed lever or latch 36 which is se cured to the end of an elbow-shaped rockerarm or lever 37 shown in Fig. 1. The rockerarm 37 is fast on a rock-shaft 38 extending across the loom, see Fig. 2, and journaled in suitable hearings in the side frames 2.

At the upper end of the arm 37 is a slot 39 for receiving a bolt l0 which projects through. a slot iii in the hooked-lever A nut on the end of the bolt d0 provides for fastening the lever 36 rigidly in place on the end of the rocker-arm 37 and the slots 39 and 41 allow for adjusting the relation of these parts whereby the hook on thelever 36 may be set in proper rela ion to the hooks on the levers or latches 30 and 31. The rocker-arm 37 is rocked from its shaft 38 to carry the hook on the lever 36 back and forth under the hooks v35 on the latches 30 and 31 during, the normal operation of the loom. The shaft 38 receives its oscillating motion from a cam 1-2, see Figs. 1 and 2, which operates on the U-shaped end of a lever 43 secured fast to the shaft. The cam 4-2 is fast on a shaft 13 connected to be ro tated from the crank-shaft- 5 through a train of gearing or other driving-means not herein shown or described in detail as it may be of any suitable arrangement as usually employed in the art. The shaft 13 is geared to the shaft '5 in such ratio that the hooked-lever 36 ismoved forward in the direction indicated by the arrow m, Fig. 1, at every other pick of the loom when the shuttles are boxed onthe side of the looin where the feeler-nieehanism is located. During the normal operation of the loom the hook-levers 30 and 31 are rocked or tilted to raise their arms 3-flas shown in Fig. 1 sothat the hooks 35 clear the hook on the lever 36. The levers 30 and 31 are tilted into this latter position by the feelers which feel the weft or filling in the shuttle to de tectthe absence of a suflicient length to supply a full pick to the weaving. As before stated, the feeler-motion or detector-device constitutes the subject matter of the present invention and is organized and arranged as follows:

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, (3 and 7 a support for the feelers 1 may mount an angle-shaped bracket 14' on the breastbeam 3 and secure it thereto by bolts d5. The bracket 14 is provided with a vertical slot 27 for receiving. one or more ring-bolts 46 which are, secured therein b-y nuts 47 screwed against washers L8 to bind against the sides of the upright arm of the bracket. Inserted through the rings 49 at the outer ends of the bolts 46 are cylindrical sleeves or bushings 50 which are held in place therein by set-screws 51. The tubular sleeves 50 are closed at either end by plugs 52 driven thereinto or otherwise suitably fast ened thereon. The end-pieces or plugs are formed with axial bores 53 which provide spaced-apartbearings for slidable wire rods 54 and constituting the fillingfeelers or detectors. loom as herein shown the two feeler-rods 5-1- and 55 are disposed horizontally in superimposed relation with their inner ends arranged opposite suitable apertures 56 and 57 in the shuttle-boxes T when the 4c is in its forward position as illustrated in Fig. 7. The apertures 56 and 57 in the shutt le-boxes 7 register with corresponding slots or openings 61 and 62 in the shuttles S and S to permit the feelers to enter therethrough to feel the filling on the fillingcarriers or bobbins B. Asis common with feeler-motions of the present type the bobbins B are provided with recesses or openings 63 in their sides or in some cases the For a double-shuttlebobbins may be formed with slots extending clear through their butt ends; and the usual means are provided in the shuttle for holding the bobbins with their slots 01' openings opposite the slots in the sides of the shuttle. My improved feeler-motion is adapted for use with any and all such filling-carriers and in the present disclosure I have considered it sufficient to illustrate merely a conventional type. Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, the weft or filling yarn g is wound onto the bobbin B to cover the slot 63 in its side and normally the end of the feeler bears against the yarn and is pre; vented from entering the slot. When the filling is unwound from the butt end of the bobbin the slot is exposed and allows the entrance of the feeler. Usually an extra length of yarn is wound around a. groove 64 in the end of the bobbin, as indicated at y in Fig. 6, and this additional yarn provides a sufficient length for one or more extra picks so that the filling will not be entirely exhausted before the loom is stopped. This provision prevents half picks in the cloth and is in accordance with the general practice well known in the art.

Referring to Fig. 7, the upper feeler 54 is here shown as having entered through the side of the shuttle-box 7 and shuttle S and also into the slot 63 in the bobbin B; while the lower feeler 55 is illustrated as bearing against the last few windings of weft on the bobbin B to prevent its insertion into the slot 63. Suitable stop-collars 58 are fastened to the outer ends of the feeler-rods 54 and 55, by means of set-screws 59, to adapt them for adjustment thereon whereby they may be set to limit the sliding movement of the rods by striking against the end-plugs 52. The bearing-sleeves 50 for the feelers 54 and 55 may be adjusted both vertically and horizontally in relation to their support or bracket 44 by releasing the nuts 47 on the bolts 46, whereby to provide for setting the feelers in proper relation to the apertures in the shuttles. It will be noted from Fig. 6 that the feeler-bearing sleeves 50 are set in offset relation to allow for the overlapping relation of the shuttles in their boxes; the upper shuttle entering farther into the box than the lower one due to the inclination. of the picker-stick. The upper sleeve is therefore set farther away from the bracket 44 than the lower sleeve and this arrangen'ient provides for positioning the feeler-rods 54 and 55 respectively opposite the two hook-levers 30 and 31 which are suspended side by side from the end of the rod 23. The method of operation of the feeler-motion in its application to the type of loom stopping-mechanism described is as follows:

The loom is started by throwing the shipperor hand-lever 10 into the position illustrated byv the full lines in Fig. 2 to shift the switch-lever 16 to turn on the current to the motor. The lever 10 is engaged with the detent 14 to hold it in this position with the knock-off lever 20 bearing against its rearward side and carrying the hook-levers 30 and 31 depending from the collar 24 on the rod 23 in opposed relation to the ends of the two feelers 54 and 55. Normally, the weight of the pendant latches or levers 30 and 31 will cause the feelers 54 and 55 to be slid rearwardly through their bearings until their stop-collars 58 abut the end-plugs 52 as shown in Fig. 6. Now, as the lay 4 swings forward to beat up the filling at the fell of the cloth, when the shuttles S, S are boxed on this side of the loom the bobbins B in the shuttles will be brought against the ends of the feelers to operate the latter as follows: When there is a covering of yarn on the bobbin the feeler will be engaged thereby, as indicated by the representation of the bobbin B in the lower shuttle S in Fig. 7, and hence the feeler 55 will be slid to the right to swing the vertical arm 32 of the latch 30 outward to raise its hooked arm 34. It has been explained that motion is imparted to the hooked lever 36 only at every other beat of the lay when the shuttles are boxed on the feeler side of the loom. If there is a sufiicient supply of filling g on the bobbins B in the shuttles then the feelers 54 and 55 will be operated therefrom to raise the hooked arms 34 of the latches 30 and. 31 before the hooked-lever 36 is moved outwardly in the direction indicated by the arrow a: in Figs. 1 and 7, and consequently no engagement will take place between these hooked element-s. When, however, the filling on one of the bobbins is substantially exhausted, as represented by the showing of the upper bobbin B in Fig. 7, then the feeler 54 will be allowed to enter the slot 63 in the side of the bobbin and hence the feeler will fail to rock the latch 31 to raise its hook 35. With the latch 31 remaining in this position its hooked end 35 will be engaged bythe hook on the lever 36 so that as the latter moves forward it will draw the lever 30 forward with it. This active cooperation be tween the lever 36 and either one of the latches 30, 31 causes the rod to be drawn forward to push the knock-off lever 20 against the shipper-lever 10 to release the latter from its detent 14. The release of the lever 10 allows it to swing into the position illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, and through this action the switch-lever 16 is turned to shut off the current from the motor to arrest the operation of the loom; it being understood that any other powercontrolling devices may be employed in this connection to operate with equal efiect in stopping the loom.

As illustrative of the method of applying any improved feeler-motion to use in connection with the fillin-g-replenishing mechanism of a loom I have shown in Figs. l and 5 a well known type of automatic loom commonly known as the Northrop or Draper. Referring to Fig. l, in this con struction a single feeler-rod is mounted to slide in bearings in a barrel or sleeve 67 which is carried by a bracket '68 mounted on the breast-beam of the loom. The rockable hookdever or latch 69 is pivoted to a collar 70 fast on the end of a rod 71 which slides in a bearing in an upright bracket 72. Mounted on a rocker-shaft 73 is an arm 74; to the upper end of which is adj ustably attached the hooked-lever 7 5, the shaft 73 and arm 74 being rocked from a cam 76 engaging a bowl or roller 77 at the end of a lever 78. The outer end of the slide-rod 71 is pivotally connected to link 7 9 which, in turn, is pivoted to a lever or arm 80 fast on a rock-shaft 81. The rock-shaft 81 is supported in bearings 83 attached to the breast-beam 3 and extends horizontally across the front of the loom to the fillingreplenishing mechanism at the opposite side.

Referring now to Fig. 5, I have here illustrated a bobbin-magazine or hopper 8d of Well known type arranged to carry a supply of full bobbins or filling-carriers B held in pockets on its rim. The bobbins B are moved successively into position above the shuttle S when the latter is boxed at this end of the loom and upon the exhaustion or substantial exhaustion of the filling on the running bobbin in the shuttle a fresh bobbin is carried down from the magazine and in serted in the shuttle and the spent bobbin ejected therefrom. The transferrer-device for forcing the bobbins out of the magazine and into the shuttle comprises essentially an elbow-shaped lever or bell-crank 85 which is pivoted to a fixed hearing at 86 and carries at the end of its main arm suitable means for engaging the butt and tip-end of the bobbin. The bobbin is guided in its downward movement by suitable devices which are shown in Fig. 5, but not herein described in detail as they are of usual construction and well known in the art. The bell-crank or transferrer 85 carries at the end of its lower arm a member 87 which is pivoted thereto at 88. On the member 87 is a block 89 formed at its outer end with a notched detent or latch 90 adapted to hook across the edge of anose or bunter 91 which projects from the front of the lay 4. The block 89 is raised into position to be engaged by the hunter 91 through the action of a link 93 connecting it with a crankarm 94 on the end of the rock-shaft 81. The link 93 is preferably constructed of two telescopic sections, for a purpose as later explained, and may consist of a rod 95 pivoted at 96 to the end of the crank-arm 9 and 1 ,aeaesa slidable in a sleeve 97 which is pivotally connected to the block 89 at 98. A coiled spring '99 surrounding the rod 95 and sleeve 97 bears against suitable flanges 100 thereon and serves to maintain the link 93 extended to a predetermined e:-;tent while also allowing i'ts sections to telescope to contract its length. The method of operation of the above described embodiment of the invention is as follows: 7

lVith' some methods of weaving, for instance in automatic looms having filling-re plenishing mechanism, a different type of bobbin from that shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is frequently employed. Referring to Figs. 8

and 9, the shuttle as here illustrated carries a bobbin B constructed without the slot or recess in its side. In order to furnish a surplus length of yarn on the bobbin to supply extra picks of the shuttle before the filling-changing mechanism starts to func" tion a preliminary winding or bunch ii" of yarn is wound onto the barrel of the bob:

bin adjacent its butt. The bunch I) con sists of'a few coils of yarn wound with a relatively short traverse, after which the service winding is built up over the bunch to thermaximum diameter, as represented by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 8. When this type of bobbin B is employed in the loom the feeler 65 enters through the aperture 61 in the shuttle S and feels against the side of the service winding on the bobbin, shown by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 8. As the yarn on the bobbin B is unwound the feeler will be permitted to enter the shuttle S to a slightly greater extent at every other pick when the shuttle boxes at the feeler side of the loom until finally, when the service winding is entirely unwound and only t-he bunch. b of surplus yarn remains, the feeler will be allowed to move into the shuttle to contact with the bunch, as shown in Fig. 9. At this juncture the feeler 65 slides into the shuttle S to an extent suflicient to allow the hooked end of the latch 69 to drop into position to be en gaged by the hooked end of the lever 75 as the latter is moved past it, see Fig. 9. Now as the lever 75 moves forward again it will be engaged by the latch 69 and through its connection therewith will draw the rod 71 forward in its bearing 72. The forward sliding movement of the rod 71 acts through the link 79 and arm 80 to rock the shaft 81 in the direction indicated by the arrow 2, Figs. 4L and Referring to Fig. 5, the rocking of the shaft 81 swings the arm 94 to cause the link 93 to raise the detent-block 89, this action taking place as the lav a is mov ing back on its rearward beat. Now, as the lay moves forward again at the next beat the shuttle will have been thrown back to box it at this side of the loom and the filling-replenishing mechanism will come into action llll) incense as follows: As the lay 4 comes forward the hunter 91 engages the notched end of the block 89 and, acting thereagainst, forces the member 87outwardly to swing the transferrer 85 on its pivot 86 to depress its upper arm. This action causes the end of the transferrer to swing down against the bobbin B which is positioned beneath it to push the latter out of the magazine and into the shuttle, at the same time ejecting the exhausted bobbin through the bottom of the shuttle. The purpose of the telescoping action of the link 93 is to allow the latter to yield slightly, as the transferrer 85 is turned on its axis, without causing the blow from the bunter on the lay to react through the rock-shaft 81. This provision prevents the slide-rod 71 from exerting pressure on the latch 69 while the latter is in engagement with the hooked lever 75, and it is to be understood that any other suitable arrangement of connections between the rock-shaft 81 and hunter-block 91 could be employed to effect the same result. Likewise the other connections between the feeler-motion and filling-replenishing mechanism may be Varied or modified in accordance with preferred constructions as usually employed without affecting the particular features of the invention to which the present application is drawn.

It will be observed that the above described improvement provides an extremely simple, compact and efficient feeler-motion or detector-device for controlling the operation of the loom in accordance with the condition of the supply of filling in the running shuttle or shuttles. As before stated, the feeler-motion may be organized to function upon the substantial exhaustion of the filling to either stop the loom or to initiate the operation of the filling-replenishing mechanism, and for such use it is applicable to practically all types of looms. The feeler-motion proper comprises only two simple elements, the freely-floating feeler-rod and the pendant latch operated therefrom, and in this condensed form is particularly economical to manufac= ture proof against derangement or getting out of order, and highly efficient in provid ing a quick, sensitive actuator-for the controlling-mechanism of the loom. The feelerrod is held in operative position by its latchlever without the use of springs, and the latch may be made extremely light in weight to minimize the effect of inertia and momentum whereby to insure a quick, sensitive response to the act-ion of the feeler. The elimination ofsprings and heavy weights and the avoidance of jointed parts provides for feeling the filling in the shuttle with an extremely light contact so that fine and delicate weft or filling yarns will not be subjected to chafing or other injury; and furthermore the action of the feeler will be more quickly responsive and less sluggish or lazy. In. this way a much more sensitive action and prompter response of the controlling-mechanism of the loom is secured with less danger of mispicks or other abnormal conditions.

While I have herein shown my improved device in apreferred embodiment it is to be understood that modifications may be made in its structure and arrangement without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore I claim broadly:

1. A feeler-motion for looms comprising a freely-floating feeler adapted to feel the weft or filling on the bobbin in the running shuttle, and a gravity-controlled lever pendantly mounted to adapt it to bear directly against the feeler without being connected thereto to urge the feeler toward the bobbin whereby when the filling is substantially exhausted the feeler will allow displacement of the lever to actuate the controlling-mechanism of the loom.

2. A feeler-motion for looms comprising a freely-floating feeler adapted to feel the weft orfilling on the bobbin in the running shuttle, and a pivoted actuator mounted in pendant relation to bear against the feeler without being jointed therewith and influenced solely by gravity to urge the feeler toward the bobbin whereby when the filling is substantially exhausted the feeler will permit displacement of the actuator to initiate the operation of the controlling-mechanism of the loom.

3. A feeler-motion for looms comprising a freely floating feeler adapted to enter the shuttle to feel the weft or filling on the bobbin, a pendant actuator arranged to bear against the feeler without being linked thereto and influenced solely by gravity to urge the feeler toward the bobbin, and loom-controlling means adapted to be operated from the actuator when the latter is displaced by the entrance of the feeler into the shuttle beyond a predetermined extent due to the substantial exhaustion of the weft or filling.

i. A filling'exhaustion indicating-mechanism for looms comprising a freely-floating feeler adapted to enter through an aperture in the shuttle to be impinged upon by means therein to cause it to recede therefrom, gravity-operated means bearing against the feeler without being linked therewith to hold it in position to enter the shuttle, and loom-controlling mechanism operated from the gravity-means when the feeler enters into the shuttle beyond a predetermined extent due to the substantial exhaustion of the weft or filling.

5. A feeler-motion for looms comprising a freely floating feeler adapted to enter the shuttle to feel the weft or filling on the bobbin, a pendant actuator controlled solely by gravity to bear against the feeler without being linked therewith to urge the feeler to lit) ward the bobbin, mechanism for controlling the operation of the loom, and means operated from the actuator to initiate the action of the controlling-mechanism when the feeler enters the shuttle beyond a predetermined extent due to the substantial exhaustion of the weft or filling.

6. A; teeler-motion for looms comprising a freely-floating slidable teeler adapted to enter the shuttle to feel the weft or filling on the bobbin, a pivoted actuator controlled solely by gravity to bear against the feeler without being connected therewith to slide the feeler, and m ans actuated from the actuator to control the operation of the loom, said means render-en active by the movement of the actuator into abnormal position due to the entrance of the feeler into the shuttle beyond a predetermined extent upon the substantial exhaustion of the weft or filling.

7. A feeler-motion for looms comprising a freely floating feeler mounted to slide in a fixed bearing to feel the weft or filling in the shuttle, a freely-movable lever, controlled solely by gravity to bear against the outer end of the feeler without being linked thereto to urge the feel'er toward the bobbin in the shuttle, means for controlling the operation of the loom, and means operated from the lever to actuate the controllingmechanism when the feeler enters the shuttle beyond a predetermined extent due to the substantial exhaustion of the weft or filling therein.

8. A feeler-motion for looms comprising a -it'reely floating slidable feeler-rod arranged with its end adapted to enter the shuttle to feel the weft or filling therein, a pivoted lever controlled solely by gravity to bear against the opposite end of the fceler-rod without being connected therewith to urge the feeler toward the bobbin, and means-actuated from the lever to control the operation of the loom when the teeler-rod enters the shuttle beyond a predetermined extent due to the substantial en haustion of the weft or filling therein.

9; In a vett-controlled mechanism for looms, the combination with means for controlling the operation of the loom, of de tent-means for rendering said controllingmeans normally inactive, a freely-floating feeler adapted to enter the shuttle to feel the weft or filling on the bobbin, an actuator controlled solely by gravity to bear against the teeler without being connected thereto to urge the feeler toward the bobbin, and means operated from the actuator to release the detent-means when the feeler enters, the shuttle beyond a predetermined extent due to the substantial exhaustion of the weft or filling therein.

10. In a weft-controlled mechanism for looms, the combination with means for controlling the operation of the loom, of a freely-floating feeler for feeling the weft or filling in the shuttle, an actuator controlled solely by gravity to bear against the teeler without being connected thereto to urge the feeler toward the bobbin in the shuttle, a going-element, and means operative from the going-element to initiate action of the loom-controlling means, said going-element rendered active by the cooperation of the ac tuator therewith when the teeler enters the shuttle beyond a predetermined extent due to the substantial exhaustion of the weft or filling therein. v

11. In a wctt-controlled mechanism for looms, the combination of a freely-floating slidable teeler, a pendant lever controlled solely by gravity to bear against the feeler without being jointed therewith to slide the leeler, a vibrating element adapted to engage the lever when the latter is displaced by the entrance of the iteeler into the shut tle beyond apredetermined extent, and means operated from the movement of the lever under the action of the vibrating ele ment to control the operation of the loom.

12. In a wettcontrolled mechanism for looms, the combination with a freely-floating slidable teeler adapted to feel the filling on the bobbin in the running shuttle, a rockable latch-lever arranged to bear against the feeler under the action of gravity without being connected therewith to urge the feeler toward the bobbin and to be rocked under the sliding action of the teeler, a going-element having a hook normally clear of the latch-lever when the latter is rocked from the movement of the teeler but engageable therewith when the feeler fails to rock the lever, and means operated from the latchlever when the latter is engaged with the going-element to control the operation of the loom.

13. In a weft-controlled mechanism for looms, the combination with a freely-floating feeler adapted to contact with the weft on the bobbin and to be moved therefrom during the beat up of the lay, a rockable latch-lever arranged in pendant relation with the feelez; to bear thereagainst without being connected therewith to adapt it to be rocked therefrom, a vibrating hooleelement adapted to normally clear the latch-lever when the latter is rocked from the teeler, and means operated from the latch-lever when the latter is allowed to engage with the hook-element to control the operation of the loom.

14. In a weft-controlled mechanism for looms, the combination with a freely-floating slidable feeler for feeling the weft or filling in the running shuttle, of a gravitycontrolled latch-lever bearing against but not connected with the feeler to be rocked from the sliding movement thereof, a going-element adapted to engage the latch-1e ver When the latter fails to be rocked by the feeler, and means operated from the latchlever during its engagement with the goingelement to control the operation of the loom.

15. In a Weft-controlled mechanismflfor looms, the combination With means for controlling the operation of the loom, of an actuator connected to operate said means, a wing-element for engaging the actuator to render the latter active, and a freely-float- 10 ing slidable feeler adapted to be engaged by the Weft or filling in the running shuttle to be slid therefrom to rock the actuator by contact therewith to normally hold it clear of the' going-element.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FREDERIC E. KIP. 

